A medical doctor. /PHOTO ;AI
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a grant of USD 2.65 million to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to strengthen surveillance of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the continent.
The two-year initiative, running from June 2025 to May 2027, will initially support 10 African Union (AU) Member States, with the potential to expand further in the years ahead.
The Africa Public Health Foundation (APHF) will serve as the fund manager for the grant.
This new collaboration comes at a time when Africa faces a rising tide of NCDs such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses that are straining already fragile health systems.
Professor Flemming Konradsen, Chief Scientific Officer for Health at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, underlined the value of the project:
“The Novo Nordisk Foundation is committed to accelerating NCD prevention and care, focusing, among other things, on the health workforce. This project will enable better planning and policy making for NCD prevention and care through systematic collection of data on disease burden, risk factors, and health service utilization.”
The burden of NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa grew by 67% between 1990 and 2017.
Their share of total disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rose from 18% to 30% over the same period, reflecting the growing toll of premature deaths and long-term disability.
Projections suggest that by 2030, NCDs, injuries, and mental health conditions combined will cause more premature deaths on the continent than all other conditions together.
By 2063, they are expected to account for the vast majority of deaths and disability.
Despite the growing burden, most African countries still have weak surveillance systems for NCDs, leaving policymakers with limited data to guide decisions on prevention, care, and resource allocation.
Building Skills and Systems
The initiative will integrate an NCD surveillance pillar into Africa CDC’s existing Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) frontline course.
This will allow health workers to gain practical skills in collecting, analyzing, and using NCD data within their existing public health roles.
By embedding NCD indicators into health information systems at all levels of care, the program aims to generate reliable evidence for better planning and policy-making.
Africa CDC sees the partnership as vital to its broader mission of building a “new public health order” for Africa. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, stressed the urgency:
“Non-communicable diseases are rising rapidly across our continent, yet surveillance systems remain weak. Strengthening NCD surveillance is essential for evidence-based decision-making, smarter investments, and building resilient health systems that protect all Africans.”
Aligning with Continental Strategies
The initiative builds directly on Africa CDC’s NCDs, Injuries Prevention and Control, and Mental Health Promotion Strategy (2022–2026) and its 2024 Guidance for Strengthening NCD Surveillance Systems.
Both documents call for improved data systems, better workforce capacity, and cross-country collaboration to integrate NCD indicators into existing health information platforms.
While many AU Member States have adopted policies on NCDs, their implementation has often been hampered by a lack of reliable data and limited technical expertise.
By developing a scalable training program, Africa CDC hopes to support countries to meet their commitments under continental frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as well as the global Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Francisco Songane, Interim CEO of the Africa Public Health Foundation, highlighted the importance of the new funding:
“This generous grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation is more than funding. It is a much-needed partnership that will allow us to build a frontline defence, a network of highly skilled health professionals equipped with the data and peer support needed to turn the tide against NCDs.”
Looking Ahead
The project represents a shift in how African health systems respond to the challenge of chronic disease. For decades, public health efforts in Africa have focused primarily on communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
While those remain critical, the rise of NCDs is creating a “double burden” that requires fresh approaches, integrated systems, and sustainable financing.
Through this initiative, Africa CDC and the Novo Nordisk Foundation aim to strengthen the evidence base needed to guide smarter investments in prevention and care.
The long-term vision is to create a continent-wide network of trained health professionals and robust data systems that not only track NCDs but also inform policy and program design at every level, from local clinics to national ministries.
If successful, the model could be scaled beyond the initial 10 AU Member States, supporting Africa’s broader health sovereignty goals and ensuring that progress against NCDs keeps pace with the continent’s development ambitions.
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an independent Danish enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives.
Headquartered in Denmark, the Novo Nordisk Foundation supports a wide range of international activities, including in East Africa.
The vision of the foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet.
Through grants and philanthropic investments, it supports research, innovation, education, and development initiatives that seek to address major societal challenges.
About the Africa Public Health Foundation
The Africa Public Health Foundation exists to forge partnerships and mobilise resources and investments for critical African public health initiatives in support of the Africa CDC and the African Union’s New Public Health Order.
For more information and to sign up for APHF’s newsletter, please visit http://www.aphf.africa
